BD+C

MAY 31, 2017

About 1.5 million people visited the Boston Public Library between July 2016 and March 2017. That’s a 22% increase over what the library drew from July 2015 through March 2016. That bump was attributable, in large measure, to the library’s $78 million renovation, the results of which debuted in July 2016. This three-year-long project, lead by William Rawn Associates | Architects and Consigli Construction, opened up and brightened what, by consensus, had been an uninviting space for patrons, disc

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IT Renovation Construction Construction 104

Dwell

JUNE 1, 2017

These vacation homes and cabins in Norway, Sweden, and Denmark feature sophisticated but pared-down interiors that complement their serene surroundings. Thanks to their love of minimalist design and respect for their surroundings, Scandinavians have created some incredible getaways in beautiful bucolic settings. Take a look at a few of our favorites below.

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Art Roofing Exterior Structure 57

A Detroit Architect's Journal

JUNE 2, 2017

Photo Credit A bove is an amazing photo of Southeastern Michigan tweeted by Astronaut Shane Kimbrough. The cities of Detroit, Toledo and Cleveland are visible. The white glow of Detroit's new LED street lights clearly distinguishes the City. T he blog below was written in December of 2012. It describes Detroit's place in history as one of the first major cities to install street lights, or "moonlight towers" as they were called in the 1890s. - There are over 85,000 street lights in Detroit and o

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Technology Technology Installation Cities 52

EntreArchitect

MAY 30, 2017

Sketching The Hopes and Dreams of My Future. When I was 12 years old, I persuaded my father to allow me to convert a section of our home’s unfinished attic into my bedroom. Up to that point in my life my only experience with actual construction was observing my father and his friends build a new family room for our house when I was 7. Oh… that, and fabricating a few Cub Scout Pinewood Derby racers.

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Sketching Small Firm Client Clients 52

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A new industry study conducted by Architizer on behalf of Chaos Enscape surveyed 2,139 design professionals to understand the state of architectural visualization and what to expect in the near future. We asked: How are visualizations produced in your firm? What impact does real-time rendering have? What approach are you taking toward the rise of AI?

Visualization

BD+C

MAY 30, 2017

Editor’s Note: This post, adapted from a talk delivered at the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH) 2016 China Conference on October 18, 2016, in Shenzhen, was originally published by NAIOP. Seventy percent of the world’s population will live in cities by 2050. This is a dramatic change over one and a half generations, and it will require us to rethink how we build our cities.

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Cities Building IT 84

BD+C

JUNE 2, 2017

Heineken USA’s new headquarters in White Plains, N.Y., consolidates the beer maker’s corporate offices from two other locations. Spector Group, the primary interior architect for the redesign project, focused on two primary improvements: the expansion of the company’s bar and social zones, and the enhancement and densification of the existing 60,000-sf bi-level office space. .

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Innovation Zoning Interior Space 69

BD+C

MAY 30, 2017

Changes to the Florida Building Code and new floodplain maps will mean buildings in the state will have to be built at higher elevations. Nonresidential buildings will have to be built at 9.5 feet, two feet higher than current requirements. Houses will have to be built at 8.5 feet, a foot higher than what is currently required.

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Building Housing 68

BD+C

JUNE 2, 2017

NELSON , the Philadelphia-based interior design firm celebrating its 40 th anniversary this year, has merged with two other firms, Cope Linder Architects and KA Architecture , to position itself as a full-service architectural and design outfit across multiple nonresidential building types. The combinations became effective on June 1.

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Firms Interior Building Architect 67

BD+C

JUNE 2, 2017

. Boston-based design and planning firm Sasaki has been at the forefront of the maker movement in the AEC market. We’re not referring to designing maker spaces for their clients, although Sasaki does that, too. . We’re talking about applying the principles and practices of the maker movement to the traditional design firm; Using hands-on exercises, prototyping, and digital design to help extract the best solutions and ideas from everyone in the organization.

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Firms Client Clients Design 66

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Aerial imagery has emerged as a necessary tool for architecture, engineering, and construction firms seeking to improve pre-construction site analysis, make more informed planning decisions, and ensure all stakeholders have access to an accurate visualization of the site to keep the project moving forward. Download our guide and take a deeper look at how aerial imagery can be leveraged to drive project efficiency by reducing unnecessary site visits and providing the accurate details required to

Site

BD+C

MAY 31, 2017

Improving space utilization is increasingly a top priority at higher education institutions. Colleges and universities looking to reduce carbon footprints want to avoid new construction yet still provide top educational experiences. Financial constraints on state governments means limited or reduced funding for public institutions, so use of existing space becomes all the more important.

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Utilities Education Space Students 66

BD+C

MAY 30, 2017

. During the past 20 years, we’ve witnessed an evolution in building design, from high-performance and energy-efficient buildings, to sustainable and green buildings, and now to spaces that enhance performance and promote wellness and health. . In this 15-minute talk at BD+C ’s Accelerate Live! conference (May 11, 2017, Chicago), Marcene Kinney and Angela Mazzi from Cincinnati-based GBBN Architects talk about their work in behavior change and health-generating design.

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Building Architect Sustainability Space 66

BD+C

MAY 31, 2017

As municipalities build out available real estate, virgin ground is eventually exhausted. And abandoned or blighted “brownfield” locations like munitions factories, steel mills and chemical plants become viable options to build. But that doesn’t come without its challenges. . REDEVELOP. BUT FIRST, REMEDIATION. While existing structures may be visible to the eye, the real trouble lies in the unseen: namely the hazardous substances, pollutants or contaminants that remain in the soil.

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Real Estate Site Structure Building 65

BD+C

MAY 30, 2017

To some project teams, “daylighting” means using glass area to admit direct sunlight, period. Yet there are better approaches to illuminating building interiors. Often, the sun’s direct rays are the last thing you need for effective daylighting. . Sunlight comes with high solar heat gain—measured as solar heat gain coefficient (SHGC) for various types of glazing and translucent materials—and can lead to glare, occupant thermal discomfort, and material degradation caused by ultraviolet (UV) light

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Glass Materials Interior Building 64

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In the dynamic world of architecture, design, and construction, creative problem-solving is crucial for success. Traditional methods often fall short in effectively conveying design intent to clients. Real-time visualization empowers you with a solid decision-making tool that smooths the design process. Discover the power of real-time visualization: Effective Communication Convey your vision clearly and align with clients.

Visualization

BD+C

MAY 30, 2017

As a shortage of affordable housing plagues California, the state’s mandates that developers pay prevailing wage on most taxpayer-subsidized low-income housing projects are a source of contentious debate. The cost of constructing low-income housing in California now averages $332,000 per unit. In an effort to determine the causes of high price tags on these projects, in 2014 the state released a report that officially said the impact of prevailing wage couldn’t be determined.

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Housing Development Developer Construction 63

BD+C

MAY 30, 2017

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has suspended an Obama-era rule requiring that companies electronically report their injury and illness records. The action prevents these records from being publicly disclosed for the immediate future. Industry groups, including the Associated Builders & Contractors, Associated General Contractors of America, and the National Association of Home Builders, had challenged the 2016 Occupational Safety and Health Administration rule in court.

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Safety Contractor Industrial Home 63

BD+C

MAY 30, 2017

The high-performance retrofit of an existing building is more difficult than building new because the structural system, orientation, and massing—the first tools in the architect’s kit—have already been used. . Moreover, the deep affection often associated with existing structures that possess cultural and historic significance presents even more resistance to high-performance design—the fear that the process will require massive modification of “untouchable” community assets.

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Modern Building Structure Design 53

BD+C

MAY 30, 2017

Selecting door and window systems for any building project demands a complete articulation of safety and security concerns. Balancing life-safety performance and integration with overall security planning is one of the most difficult aspects of fenestration design. According to Safe Havens International, security and safety in the design of new buildings include proper egress, improved natural surveillance (the ability for people to see their surroundings and be seen by others), and heightened s

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Safety Windows Nature Building 53

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Don’t let water wash away all your hard work. When specifying concrete waterproofing, you need a solution that’s reliable and permanent. Without it, your concrete waterproofing is at risk of failing and letting water erode and corrode the concrete that it was supposed to protect. Reduce the risk of waterproofing failure by reading through our latest free specification e-book, which will take you through the four key components to better concrete waterproofing specification.

Design

BD+C

JUNE 2, 2017

Nonresidential construction spending fell 1.7% in April 2017, totaling $696.3 billion on a seasonally adjusted, annualized basis, according to analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data released today by Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC). .

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Construction Construction Contractor 49

BD+C

MAY 30, 2017

. As everyone in the AEC industry knows all too well, without money for a building project, there is no building project. . During his decades-long career in architecture, Paul Westlake has become somewhat of a master for helping his clients—particularly in the cultural and performing arts sectors—find money for their projects, or find more money for their projects.

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Client Clients Project Industrial 40

BD+C

MAY 30, 2017

. Russ Sykes has seen it all. . He’s hiked 19,000 feet above sea level, to the peak of Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. He launched his firm’s operations in China. And he rose to become a Managing Partner and Chairman of the Board of the nation’s oldest and largest AE firms.

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Innovation Management Firms IT 40

BD+C

MAY 30, 2017

An alliance of building industry groups is working to unify ASHRAE's Standard 189.1 for High-Performance Green Buildings with ICC's International Green Construction Code (IgCC) into a single model code.

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Industrial Building Construction Construction 55

Speaker: Pedro Clarke – Principal Architect at A+ Architecture, In Loco Program Director

Sustainability begins with a conversation, and acquiring customer buy-in is entirely dependent on how the conversation is framed. Clients may not see sustainability as a priority out of fear of operational costs and quality. While these are legitimate concerns, it is our responsibility as architects to listen and foster a collaborative culture that answers client issues while also reducing our carbon footprint.

Architecture